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Salt Lake City converts former Leonardo museum into city offices

Salt Lake City converts former Leonardo museum into city offices

Built World Salt Lake City, UT local

The old main library, vacant since the museum closed, is being fitted for city staff and youth services as its two historic planes come down

November 2026: C-131 scrapped; MiG-21 demolition nears completion

Overview

Updated 4 days ago

Salt Lake City has finished scrapping the Convair C-131 that hung inside the former Leonardo museum and is close to completing demolition of a Cold War-era MiG-21 fighter jet. The city filed a building permit in September to convert the 110,000-square-foot building into offices and youth-services space.

The Downtown Farmers Market's winter market returns to the building on Nov. 14, without the two planes that once hung over vendors. Construction on the third-floor offices, a roughly 30,000-square-foot, $2.8 million job, is expected to start in November, with city employees moving in by April.

Why it matters

The conversion returns a vacant downtown landmark to public use, part of a broader municipal office consolidation across Salt Lake County.

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Key Indicators

110,000 sq ft
Building size
The former main library and museum totals about 110,000 square feet.
$2.8M
Third-floor remodel
Estimated job value for the roughly 30,000-square-foot office remodel on the third floor.

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People Involved

Erin Mendenhall
Erin Mendenhall
Mayor of Salt Lake City
In office; overseeing the Leonardo office conversion

Organizations Involved

Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City
Municipal government
Building owner and renovation lead

City government that owns the former library building and is leading the renovation.
The Leonardo
The Leonardo
Museum
Closed; former tenant of the building

Defunct museum that occupied the old main library.
Salt Lake City Public Library
Salt Lake City Public Library
Public library system
Original occupant of the building

Operated the main library in the building before relocating downtown.

Timeline

2011 November 2026

8 events Latest: November 2026
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. C-131 scrapped; MiG-21 demolition nears completion

    Latest Construction

    City officials said the Convair C-131 had been scrapped and work to remove and demolish the MiG-21 was nearing completion, clearing space for the winter market and office conversion.

  2. City decides to scrap MiG-21 jet

    Decision

    After a failed sale and auction, the city chooses to cut down the MiG-21 for scrap rather than remove it whole, protecting the building's structure.

  3. City moves ahead on renovation plan

    Plan

    City proceeds with plan to convert the building to office space and youth services.

  4. Demolition of C-131 aircraft begins

    Construction

    Crews begin dismantling the Convair C-131 transport plane inside the former Leonardo as part of the office conversion.

  5. Building permit filed

    Permit

    Salt Lake City files a commercial building permit to remodel the Leonardo into city offices.

  6. Museum officially closed

    Closure

    The Leonardo is officially closed after months of temporary closure for repairs.

  7. Museum closes during pandemic

    Closure

    The Leonardo closes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  8. The Leonardo museum opens

    Opening

    Art, science and technology museum opens in the former Salt Lake City Main Library.

Scenarios

1

Permit approved, construction begins

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Building Salt Lake, which reported work could begin in the coming months

If the commercial building permit clears city review, Salt Lake City will award a construction contract and begin remodeling. Departments would move in once the work is finished, completing the building's shift from museum to municipal use.

2

Project delayed or scaled back over costs

Possible Resolves by Q3 2027

Discussed by: A standard risk for large municipal renovations; no specific analyst has weighed in

If renovation costs exceed the city's budget, officials could postpone the project or reduce its scope, such as moving fewer departments or dropping youth services from the plan. Similar cost pressures are driving Salt Lake County to buy rather than renovate office space.

3

Conversion complete, departments move in

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Salt Lake City's stated plan to house multiple departments and youth services in the building

With construction finished, city staff relocate into the landmark. The move completes the building's reuse cycle from library to museum to municipal offices and signals the end of its cultural-venue era.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2025-2026

Salt Lake County Government Center review (2025-2026)

Salt Lake County reviewed its nearly 40-year-old Government Center, which needs more than $124 million in deferred maintenance. The county concluded buying existing office space would be more cost-effective than renovating or rebuilding the two-building campus.

Then

The county is exploring the purchase of an existing building, estimating a move within 12-18 months.

Now

The existing site could be redeveloped with private developers, generating property tax and lease revenue for the county.

Why this matters now

Shows the parallel logic behind the city's Leonardo conversion: aging buildings and a soft office market make consolidation cheaper than upkeep.

2011-2020

The Leonardo museum's opening (2011)

Salt Lake City renovated its old main library into The Leonardo, an experiential art, science and technology museum. The 110,000-square-foot venue included exhibition areas, labs, and a theater.

Then

The museum drew visitors but struggled financially, closing during the pandemic.

Now

The building sat vacant for years, leading the city to plan its conversion to municipal offices.

Why this matters now

Explains why the landmark is empty and available for the city's office plan.

2003

New downtown main library opens (2003)

Salt Lake City's new downtown main library, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, opened and replaced the older building. The original library structure was left empty.

Then

The old building was later renovated and reopened as The Leonardo museum in 2011.

Now

The building's reuse cycle now turns from museum back to government use with the city's office conversion.

Why this matters now

This is the third major reuse of the same landmark, showing how civic buildings cycle between public functions.

Sources

(7)
+1
Building Salt Lake Envision Engineering Salt Lake County Hoodline KSL.com Axios Salt Lake City The Salt Lake Tribune